explaining to four year olds dog has died....

ecgirl07

When my mums cat died, it was the first time my neice had experienced death in the family, so my sister had explained that coco had died at the vets and granny had buried her in the garden. First thing my niece says when she sees my mum "thats sad about Coco, but did you really plant her in the garden?"

coco is now fondly remembered as being planted in the garden.

Indie_Kid

mum2twinsx2 wrote: »

Feels weird not having her sat by my feet now the kids are bed.

My parents said the same. we lost 3 dogs within 11 months. The first time, mum said no to another dog; but said it was odd only having the one dog. (it was too quiet)

mum2one

Hope everything goes ok, we lost our dog last year, he was a week off his 14th birthday, but for the last 5 yrs we knew we were on borrowed time, but in the last yr he had gone downhill, but our vet as said, he eatings, drinking, and not in pain, - but just after we had been on holiday with him, like your dog he had slept upstairs, the one night he didn't want to go upstairs, that morning we came down and his back end had gone, we knew it was the end. My daughter was 6 1/2yrs, so we we told her that Whisky was going to heaven, and that he would be the bright star in heaven, and that her Aunty Karen would be there to wait for him and look after him.
For about 2 weeks she was inconsolidble, it was awful, she asked if she sold her tramploine, all her toys, everything she could, could she buy Whisky back.
Even though we said no more dogs, we went after a couple of rescue spaniels, but unfortunately that didn't come off, so we ended up with a puppy. She choose him, his name, called him Bailey, and they are inseperable, theres pictures of Whisky in the house, we had cremated and had his ashes, we were going to sprinkle them, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to.
I would say be as honest as you can, but at a level they can understand, and let them talk about the dog, ur heart may feel likes its breaking, when they ask, but being strong for them.
I'm so sorry about your loss. xx

lola34

Children are very accepting of life and death, and hope your LO isn't too upset, there is a childrens book out there somewhere about a little girl (I think ) whose dog has died and it goes though it for children, I remember reading it to a 3 year old going through the same thing, can't remember what its called but if you google it you may find it.

building_with_lego

lola34 wrote: »

Children are very accepting of life and death...

So true. My cat died when DD was 3 and I had a hurried conversation with her before OH buried her. I explained that there had been an accident (car ) and she had died and we wouldn't be able to play with her any more. She wailed, but wanted to see her body, and trotted off to preschool to announce the news. She did return to the subject periodically and I did need to reiterate that Chica really was not coming back.

From the other side: I was about seven when our cat had to be put down, and my dad took my brother and me with him to the vet. We were stroking her as the vet injected her, so we actually SAW what dying looked like and then she was relaxed and looked like her younger self. I don't know how related it is but I'm not terrified of death and view it more as a part of life. I think that's a gift, and am very grateful to my old Pa! I think he was brave to have taken us.

I'm sorry for your loss.

lostinrates

I think its one of the precious things our pets give us: the opportunity to understand death as children. My first childhood dog was run over while we were on holiday when I was a child and the person taking care of it and the vet had tried to keep him alive, so on return my parents were told at the airport and we went straight to the vet. My mother was grief stricken, but my father explained and said that we had to go straight to him to say good bye and end his suffering. I was only 3/4 years old but I still remember seeing him vividly, and his excitment,though he couldn't walk, trying to come and see me (I was '''his''puppy). I don't remember the injection but I remember my dad and I stroking him and my dad explaining he was gone. I'm sure this experience, though it was traumatic, was behind my decision later to work with animals, and partly why I am now a smallholder.



My sympathy to you all.

mum2twinsx2

Thanks everyone.
Wounds are still a little raw, and i trying not to mention the dog as i did last night and set the girls off sobbing. It ws horrid, they were really upset, ive never felt pain like it where i couldnt do anything to make them happy, they were genuinely heartbroken.
I mention it to there teacher this morning incase they did get upset at school. Daisy did proceed to tell her about Rainbow Bridge, which teacher was intrested in seeing it too.
It is there first full day at school as they were only on half days so hopefully be a distraction.

Also remembered i had brought them Marley and Me DVD for christmas, so think that will be given as a gift to someone else or hid away for a while.